Lawrence Summers, the former US Treasury Secretary who also served as president of Harvard University, will be stepping down from his teaching role at Harvard amid scrutiny due to his ties with Jeffrey Epstein. This news was reported by US media on the 25th. Summers' relationship with Epstein, who was charged with sex crimes against minors before his death in jail in 2019, has come under renewed investigation following documents released by the US Congress last November showcasing their close connections. Harvard has indicated that Summers' resignation is related to these troubling revelations.

Summers was a prominent economist and held several key positions within the US government, including the Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton. Although he stepped down as Harvard's president in 2006, he remained a professor at the university, maintaining a significant presence in academic circles. His connections with Epstein raised alarms about ethical standards among academics and public officials, particularly given Epstein's criminal activities and the nature of his high-profile social network.

The Harvard administration has faced increasing pressure to address the implications of faculty members' associations with individuals like Epstein. Summers had previously expressed shame over his relationship with Epstein and had taken a leave from his academic duties following the revelation of their association. His departure from Harvard is seen as part of the larger accountability movement within institutions of higher learning regarding their affiliations and responses to allegations of misconduct associated with powerful figures.